CMS issued the warning after inspectors found six psychiatric patients left the hospital’s emergency department between Aug. 1 and Sept. 11 without completing treatment and without hospital staff members’ knowledge, according to the report. John McWhorter, the hospital’s president, told the News the facility is taking the warning “very seriously.” Baylor intends to send a plan of correction to the Texas Department of State Health Services today.
Mr. McWhorter said the hospital’s plans to correct the safety problem include having “escorts” or “sitters” for patients in the ED, according to the report. Baylor must implement practices to address the issue by Oct. 22 to remain in the Medicare program, which accounts for $300 million of the hospital’s $1 billion in total revenue.
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